FINAL BILL REPORT

ESSB 5083

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

C 26 L 15

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Enacting the sudden cardiac arrest awareness act.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education (originally sponsored by Senators McAuliffe, Litzow, Rolfes, McCoy, Billig, Darneille, Kohl-Welles, Frockt and Fraser).

Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education

House Committee on Education

Background: Sudden cardiac death is the result of an unexpected failure of proper heart function that may occur during or immediately after exercise. It is reported that cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in youth athletes.

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) is a private, nonprofit service organization and rulemaking body. WIAA consists of nearly 800 member high schools and middle or junior high schools, both public and private, and it is divided into nine geographic service districts.  WIAA staff administers policies, rules, and regulations and provides other assistance and service to member schools.

The University of Washington Medicine Center for Sports Cardiology aims to advance the cardiovascular care of athletes and physically active patients of all ages. This center is a collaboration between sports medicine and cardiology specialists to establish clinical and academic resources.

Summary: The stated intent of the Legislature is to make youth athletes, their families, and coaches aware of sudden cardiac arrest.

Online Pamphlet. WIAA must work with member schools' board of directors, a nonprofit organization that educates communities about sudden cardiac arrest in youth athletes, and the University of Washington Medicine Center for Sports Cardiology to develop and make available an online pamphlet that provides youth athletes, their parents or guardians, and coaches with information about sudden cardiac arrest. The online pamphlet must include information on the nature, risk, symptoms and warning signs, prevention, and treatment of sudden cardiac arrest. The online pamphlet must be posted on the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction's website.

On a yearly basis, prior to participating in an interscholastic athletic activity, a sudden cardiac arrest form stating that the online pamphlet was reviewed must be signed by the youth athlete and the athlete's parents or guardian and returned to the school.

Online Prevention Program for Coaches. WIAA must work with member schools' board of directors, an organization that provides educational training for safe participation in athletic activity, and the University of Washington Medicine Center for Sports Cardiology to make available an existing online sudden cardiac arrest prevention program for coaches.

Every three years prior to coaching an interscholastic athletic activity, coaches must complete the online sudden cardiac arrest prevention program. Coaches must provide a certificate showing completion of the online sudden cardiac arrest prevention program to the school.

Private Nonprofit Organizations. Private nonprofit organizations using school property must provide a statement of compliance with the policies for sudden cardiac awareness.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate

46

0

House

79

18

Effective:

July 24, 2015